DIY Hand Soap

The other day a UPS package arrived for my child. In it was a book of fun DIY projects for kids from our neighbors, who are on vacation. The focus is on planet-friendly, fun stuff.

My daughter grabbed it, flipped through the pages and excitedly announced, “I want to do THIS!” I looked at the page she was pointing to – “Stylish Suds.” In other words, hand soaps you make yourself.

It looked fun, simple and cheap – my three requirements for any craft project. After trips to the grocery store to obtain the ingredients we were lacking at home, and the craft store for some fun cookie cutters, we were ready to go…

What you’ll need:

Microwavable bowl

Spoon (one to measure, one to mix)

Cheese grater

Cookie cutters

Baking tray

Ingredients:

Oatmeal (3 tbsp)

1 large bar of soap

Water (3 tbsp)

Food coloring

Instructions:

Step 1: First you break the oatmeal flakes up with your hands. This is a fun tactile experience for the little one(s).

Step 2: Then, grate the bar of soap into your microwavable bowl. This proved to be a bit challenging and time consuming, and my four year old lost interest. I had to find something to entertain her while I completed the task.

Step 3: Add water to the bowl and microwave on high for about 40 seconds, or until soap bubbles are close to the bowl’s edge. Stir and repeat until all slivers have melted.

Step 4: Mix in the oatmeal and two or three drops of food coloring. (We made two batches, in my daughter’s favorite colors.) Stir and spoon the mixture into cookie cutters placed on a flat tray. Place in the freezer for one hour.

Step 5: Once they are have cooled and are hardened, pop them out (carefully) and enjoy!

We really did have fun with this project. My daughter plans to make some more princess soap to give to her best friend as a gift. We will also be able to make seasonal and holiday-themed soaps throughout the year. The possibilities are endless!